Christians Should Feel Comfort in God's Presence


Christians should feel the close and constant presence of God, recognizing it as "not a matter of terrifying judgment, but rather of support and liberation." That was the message of Pope Benedict XVI to his weekly public audience on December 14.

The Holy Father spoke to about 18,000 people in St. Peter's Square, basing his remarks on Psalm 138, which probes the mystery of a God who is "transcendent yet near."

The psalmist recognizes that God "looks severely on evil," the Pope said. But "the fundamental reality is a saving presence." God's knowledge is different from man's knowledge, penetrating the darkness and anticipating the future. So the believer feels comfort in God's presence, recognizing his care and compassion.
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